We will be using this page to serve as a springboard for projects, activities, and ideas. Please email me if you can't find a link that you're looking for related to our class. Note this page is in progress and will be updated and adapted as need be.
Day One
Read the article I give you. Then go to the link below to practice the test questions. Be sure to print out your results so we can go over the ones you missed.
Click on this link ISAT Reading Practice
Then click on the 8th grade level link for 2013 ISAT Reading Sample Questions.
Go to this link and practice the spelling for homonyms (words that sound a like but have different meanings. Don't worry about the fact that some of the lists say they're "elementary school" lists. Many middle school students still get these words mis-spelled. Every time you get a test completed, raise your hand so I can see your score. Start at the beginning of the first list and then move to the next one. Sound-a-like words
Check these sites out to work on vocabulary building vocab practice for many subjects
Play free rice to practice vocabulary. Words should get harder as you continue to play. (be sure to click on subjects and choose English vocab) Free Rice - vocab
Play freerice.com to practice grammar and to donate rice to third-world nations. (Be sure to click on subjects and choose English Grammar) Free Rice - grammar
3. Work on poems. You must have three completed by FRIDAY!!!
By the end of the week, you must hand in at least 3 original poems. Note: On my website are a few resources that can help you with your poems with things like finding words that rhyme or finding the format of a type of poem. Choose from these types of poems:
A. Cinquain B. Diamente C. Autobiographical Poem or I am poem D. Metaphor poem E. Villanelle F. Haiku G. Image or Iconograph poem H. Philosophical poem I. Free-verse poem (this means you decide the format and write the poem the way you want to write it- generally free-verse poems do not have a specific rhyme pattern)
Check out some videos from the "My Favorite Poems" Project. Favorite Poem Project
(I really like the one on "The Sloth," "We Real Cool" "Nick and the Candlestick" "Casey at the Bat" "From Song of Myself")
(I haven't watched them all, so if there's one you really like, let me know!)
Some of these activities are a little young, but others are fun. Check them out for some ideas on how to write poems and to see examples of literary terms. Poetry for Kids link 2
Try using this link if you need help finding a rhyme. Rhyme machine
Use this "Poetry Engine" to come up with a haiku, cinquain, limerick, or free verse. Poetry Engine
Table of Contents
SRI LExile Test link
Click here to take the SRI Lexile TestLit Circle Voting
Pay it Forward Voting
Pay it Forward Brainstorming
ISAT Practice
Day OneRead the article I give you. Then go to the link below to practice the test questions.
Be sure to print out your results so we can go over the ones you missed.
Click on this link ISAT Reading Practice
Then click on the 8th grade level link for 2013 ISAT Reading Sample Questions.
Day Two
Practice Test 2
Descriptive Writing
Descriptive Writing ActivitiesSpelling / Vocab Practice
Go to this link and practice the spelling for homonyms (words that sound a like but have different meanings. Don't worry about the fact that some of the lists say they're "elementary school" lists. Many middle school students still get these words mis-spelled. Every time you get a test completed, raise your hand so I can see your score. Start at the beginning of the first list and then move to the next one.Sound-a-like words
Check these sites out to work on vocabulary building
vocab practice for many subjects
Play free rice to practice vocabulary. Words should get harder as you continue to play. (be sure to click on subjects and choose English vocab)
Free Rice - vocab
Vocab games
READING COMPREHENSION PRACTICE
Practice for those MAP tests!GRAMMAR
Play freerice.com to practice grammar and to donate rice to third-world nations. (Be sure to click on subjects and choose English Grammar)Free Rice - grammar
Choose from many different grammar subjects to review
Grammar Games
more grammar games medium
more grammar games - medium to difficult
various topics
POETRY
POETRY ASSIGNMENT3. Work on poems. You must have three completed by FRIDAY!!!
By the end of the week, you must hand in at least 3 original poems. Note: On my website are a
few resources that can help you with your poems with things like finding words that rhyme or
finding the format of a type of poem. Choose from these types of poems:
A. Cinquain
B. Diamente
C. Autobiographical Poem or I am poem
D. Metaphor poem
E. Villanelle
F. Haiku
G. Image or Iconograph poem
H. Philosophical poem
I. Free-verse poem (this means you decide the format and write the poem the way you want to
write it- generally free-verse poems do not have a specific rhyme pattern)
Check out some videos from the "My Favorite Poems" Project.
Favorite Poem Project
(I really like the one on "The Sloth," "We Real Cool" "Nick and the Candlestick" "Casey at the Bat" "From Song of Myself")
(I haven't watched them all, so if there's one you really like, let me know!)
Some of these activities are a little young, but others are fun. Check them out for some ideas on how to write poems and to see examples of literary terms.
Poetry for Kids link 2
Try using this link if you need help finding a rhyme.
Rhyme machine
Use this "Poetry Engine" to come up with a haiku, cinquain, limerick, or free verse.
Poetry Engine